Space

Further Reading

August 2004 Space News

DISTANT SUNS / SMALL PLANETSVOA 31 Aug 2004 -- U.S. astronomers have made a finding they say increases the chance that distant stars may harbor planetary systems like our own. They have discovered two planets the size of Neptune elsewhere in our galaxy. These are the smallest planets yet found outside our solar system and may herald the discovery of even smaller ones like Earth.

U.S. Scientists Announce New Class of PlanetsWashington File 31 Aug 2004 -- U.S. scientists announced the discovery of a new class of planets outside Earth's solar system August 31, the smallest planets ever detected so far from Earth.

U.S.: Spacecraft Set To Return Solar Particles To EarthRFE/RL 31 Aug 2004 -- Though made of diamonds, sapphires, gold, and silicon, a sampling device on board a U.S. spacecraft is set to bring even more precious cargo back to Earth in a week's time -- bits of the sun caught during the probe's three-year journey. Named "Genesis," the spacecraft should swing by Earth on 8 September, releasing a capsule containing particles of solar wind. The capsule is due to come down in Utah.

Atlas IIAS Launch Postponed AgainLockheed Martin 28 Aug 2004 -- The launch of AC-167, an Atlas IIAS mission, was scrubbed today due to an insufficient level of liquid oxygen remaining in the ground storage tanks to complete launch operations. An anomalous valve position allowed the release of liquid oxygen to the drainage area.

Atlas IIAS Launch Of NRO Payload PostponedLockheed Martin 27 Aug 2004 -- The launch of an Atlas IIAS vehicle with a national security payload was postponed today to allow for additional testing on batteries on the booster.

NASA Genesis Spacecraft Returns to Earth with Solar Wind SamplesWashington File 20 Aug 2004 -- The Genesis spacecraft will swing by Earth next month and jettison a capsule that is carrying samples of particles of the sun that may help explain the beginnings of the solar system, says a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) press release.

MARS / WATERVOA 18 Aug 2004 -- Scientists say they might be on the verge of confirming that large amounts of water once flowed in a region of Mars that has looked curiously dry until now. Such a finding could be comparable to their discovery earlier this year of an ancient shallow sea on the other side of the red planet.

TWO MORE SATURN MOONS VOA 17 Aug 2004 -- The planet with the second largest number of moons now has two more. The U.S. Cassini spacecraft discovered them around Saturn, bringing the giant ringed planet's known total to 33.

Mars Rover Sends Pictures to European Space Agency OrbiterWashington File 11 Aug 2004 -- The Mars rover Opportunity sent pictures from the planet's surface to the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express orbiter on August 4, showing for the first time that the orbiter could serve as a communications link.

Amazonas satellite reaches geostationary orbitEADS 11 Aug 2004 -- After its launch from Baikonur on 5th of August at 4:32 (0:32 CET time) by a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle, the Amazonas satellite’s perigee altitude was raised in several burns of its own engine until it reached geostationary orbit. Its solar arrays were successfully deployed as were the antenna reflectors and the satellite is now accurately pointing to Earth. All systems are behaving nominally. As planned the satellite is drifting to its final orbital position where it will be thoroughly tested before the payload can be brought into full operational service.

EADS Astrium Builds Super-Eye for JWST Space TelescopeEADS 09 Aug 2004 -- EADS Astrium GmbH is to build the NIRSpec super-eye for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded the €69million contract to EADS SPACE’s satellite specialists. The 200kg spectrograph is able to detect the faintest radiation from the most distant galaxies and can observe more than 100 objects simultaneously.

Lockheed Martin Team Delivers Critical Space Missile Warning Payload To U.S. Air ForceLockheed Martin 06 Aug 2004 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today announced the delivery of the first space payload for the Space-Based Infrared System High (SBIRS High) program. The payload was delivered for integration with a host satellite and eventual launch into a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) around the earth. The HEO payload’s primary mission is to scan for ballistic missile launches; adjunct missions include detecting and reporting other infrared events of military interest.

Mars Rovers Continue to Explore While Teams Diagnose ProblemsWashington File 05 Aug 2004 -- NASA's Spirit rover has climbed higher into Mars's rocky hills while its twin craft, Opportunity, descended deeper into a crater, but both are operating with restrictions while team members diagnose unexpected behavior.

Canada and United States Amend NORAD AgreementDepartment of National Defence of Canada 05 Aug 2004 -- Minister of National Defence Bill Graham and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew today announced that the Government is amending the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) agreement with the United States. The amendment authorizes NORAD to make its missile warning function - a role it has been performing for the last 30 years - available to the U.S. commands conducting ballistic missile defence.

NASA Probe Launched by Boeing Delta II Heading to MercuryBoeing 03 Aug 2004 -- The first mission to explore the Planet Mercury in more than three decades began today with the successful launch of NASA's MESSENGER (MErcury Surface, Space, ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging)spacecraft aboard a Boeing Delta II Heavy launch vehicle.

MERCURY MISSIONVOA 03 Aug 2004 -- The United States has launched a spacecraft to explore the mysteries of the planet Mercury. Mercury is the least understood of the nine planets in our solar system.

NASA Set to Launch Orbiter to MercuryWashington File 02 Aug 2004 -- Bad weather forced NASA to cancel the scheduled August 2 launch of MESSENGER, the first mission to Mercury in 30 years. The space agency's window to begin the mission extends to August 14.